Gas-engine.



PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

W. T. MAXWELL.

GAS ENGINE. APPLICATION VPILED MAR.21.1906.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

w. 7M mm:

.110. 878,888. I PATENTED PEB.11, 1908. w. T. MAXWELL.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2I.1906. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR.

No. 878,888. 7 PATENTED' FEB. 11, 1908'. W. T. MAXWELL, @G'AS ENGINE APPLICATION FILED MAILZl. 1906. s SHEE'EfiQ-SHEET a.

multiple cylinder type.

- UNITED srArns PATENT OFFICE.-

Application filed March 21. 1906. I Serial No. 307.157.

T 0 all whom it may concern,

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. MAXWELL,

a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, scgipltion thereof.

is invention relates to gas or gasolene and similar explosive engines and more especially to engines of this character of the and exact de- The object of the ention is to provide -means for starting such engines directly by' explosions of the fuel in the cylinder and without the necessity the engine shaft as is necessary with certain ty esof explosion engines.

tome types of explosive engines such as used extensively on motor vehicles, cannot I be started without first turning the main in the cylinders to as p . for t e driver to of the machine.- this is very disagreeable. Furthermore there shaft, or cranking the same, as it is called. This is necessary in order to create suctiondraw a charge of fuel, com ress the same and explode it. To cran the engine shaft it is necessary for the driver to leave his seat and step to the front In case of a muddy road is always danger of the engine kickingback thus throwing the crank violently backward. This'has frequently resulted in serious injury to the driver. My invention is intended to overcome the fore oing difficulties and to make it .possible start the engine without the necessity of leaving his seat.

Generally stated, he inventioncomprises a fuel supply, means, such asa'hand ump, forforcing a charge 'of-fuel into a'cylin er, an indicator to's'how the conditionof'the sparking circuit and to-locate the cylinder having "the active spark plug, and valve mechanism for directing the fue charge to the cylinder having the active spark plug.

The invention also comprises other details of arrangement, such as a lock for the valve mechanism arranged to hold the valve open and which is automatically disengaged when the fuel pump is operated so to permit the automatic closing of the valves and prevent the explosion from firing back to the fuel supply n The invention also comprises other features of turning or cranking PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORY or rnnnnnrcnrn PENNSYLVANIA. 1

Patented Feb.11 ,1908.

of construction and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure is a vertical section through a l-cylinder en sh owing my'invention applied thereto is a transverse vertical section thro' the.

same; Fig. '3 is a detail on an enlarge scale of the cut-off and check valve arrangement for each cylinder; Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale of the valve for directinglthe fuel to the several cylinders and the operat'-' ingmeans therefor; Fig. 5 is an outside of the same valve; Fig. 6 shows one of the dials; and Fig. 7- is an elevation illustratinga modification.

tiple cylinder explosive engine and the drawings showthe same applied to a i-cylinder gasolene engine such as is iised on motor vehicles. This, engine is provided with the vertical cylinders'l 2 3 and 4 each. of which contains the usual-piston 5having connecting rods 6 leading to cranks? on the main drive shaft 8. These cylinderswill be pro- My invention can be applied to any mulvided with the usual inlet 9 and exhaust 10 for the fuel and waste gases, and with a spark plug 11 or other igniter of a proved type,

and will further have all of te accessoriesusual with engines of this character. "As these form no part of the present invention they are not described nor specifically iliiistrated. In engines of this character the charges in the several cylinders are exploded in succession, this being accomplished by providing a suitable circuit changer or distributer which directs the current to thespark plugs of the several cylinders in the required sequence. Inthe drawings such circuit'changer is illustrated generally at 12, bein actuated by a shaft 13 connected by beve gears to a counter shaft 14 which is driven from the main shaft by gearing 15. This circuit changer operates in the usual way and needs no further description or illustration. I

All of the parts so far described are or may be of the usual construction. My invention consists in adding to the usual connections and "appurtenances ofsuch engines the parts now to be described.

Connected to the several cylinders are supplemental fuel supply pipes 16, 17, 18 and 19 which lead 'to a valve 20 arranged to open st I - inders.

as a tank 21, and any one of the several cyl- To force the supply of fuel into these cylinders provide any suitable means, such'as the hand pump 22, foot pump, bulb, or the like, connected between the fuel tank 21 and the valve 20. An air inlet 23 is rovided for supplying the proper amount 0 air to give, a mixture of the usual proportions. The valve 20 is shown in detail in-Fi'g. 4, be ing provided on one sidewith four .ports to which the pipes 16, 17, 18 and 19, respec-,

tively, are connected, and having on the other side a port 24 to which is connected a pipe coming from the-pump 22. The port 24 communicates with agroove or recess 25 out in the inner face of the casing. The valve plug 26 is provided with a port 27 which establishes communication between the recess 25'and any one of the several pipes 16, 17, 18 and 19, depending upon the position to which the valve has been turned. This valve may be operated by various means. As shown in the drawings, the valve plug is provided outside of'the casing with a pinion 29 which is engaged by a toothed segment 30 on a lever 31. The operating mechanism comprises a suitable'bar or rod 33 mounted to bothreciprocate and rotate. This bar is provided with four lugs or projections 34, 35, 36 and 37, set 90 degrees from each other and located in diflerent positions-lengthwise of the rod. ."One of' these lugs corresponds to each one of the ports 16, 17', 18 and 19 of the valve. The

rod has a fixed amplitude of travel being limited in its endwise movement by the collar 38 adapted to come in contact with thecasing 39. The rod will first be rotated 'to brin thedesired lu into line with theend of the ever 31 and t en by moving the rod lengthwise the lever will be moved and.

through the samethe valve 26 rotates. Inasmuch as the several lugs are located in different positions lengthwise of the rod 'it'is obvious that the valve 26 will be rotated different degrees by the several lugs, thus establishing connection with the different pipes 16, 17,- 18 and 19. The valve is returned to its neutral or cut off position,

shown in Fig. 4, by the'collar 38, which on backward movement of the rod contacts with the lever 31. The rod 33 is. retracted automatically, as by means of a spring 40 connected to the end thereof and to a suitable bracket 41. At its forward end the rod is provided with a suitable grip or handle 42 and this handle may serve as an indicating.

device to determinewhich one of the several lugs on the rod is in line with the lever 31.

For instance when the grip or handle is ointing downwardly the lug '34 will be in line with the lever; when said handle points to the ri ht the lug 35 will be in line with the lever; w en said handlepoints toward .the left the lug 36 will be in this position, and

- will be in this position.

. desired to start the engine. anlsm described will eflectthis by first turnthis indicator isfshown at 50. an ordinary dial having an indicatinghand wardly the lug 37 t-is preferred, howprovide the rod with an indicating when the handle points u ever, to hand dial 414, as shown in Fig. (1. Each of the pipes 16, 17, 18 and 19 is also provided with a cutout valve 45 which may be an ordinary 2-way cock having connected thereto a lever 46 having a'pin and slot connection with a collar or sleeve 47 within which the rod 33 is rotatable. is to close the several pipes close to the.cyl inders so as to prevent iback firing, and also avoid clearance into which the explosion may expand. As an additional precaution each of these pipes is also preferably provided with a check valve of suitable con- 43 moving over a. suitably numbered The object ,of these cutout valves struction, such as shown at 48, said check valve seating toward thefuel supply and closing automatically whenever pressure exists. in the cylinder. This check valve will prevent back firing even in case the cutoff valves45 should be open.

The circuit changer 12, as above stated, dlrects the current to the spark plugs of the several cylinders in succession, or proper sequence, and the valve 20 is arranged to admit a charge of fuel to the particular cylinder whose spark plug is active at. the time it is The valve meching-the rod 331:0 theproper position'and then moving it longitudinally. thus' insuring that the charge goes into thee linder having the active spark plug. In order that the driver may be advised as to which cylinder has the actlve spark plu ,I provide a suitable indicator operated 0111, or at least in unison with, the circuit changer 12. In the drawing This'may be sections of the circuit changer, so that when the commutator stops in any given position the indicator discloses which cylinder has the active sparkplug. The driver will then turn the rod 33 to the corresponding position and 5 then pull out on the handle moving .the rod 33 longitudinally to turn the valve 20: 'to' open communication between the ump and the particular cylinder having t e active spark plug. He will then operate thepump to force a charge into that cylinder.

Preferably means are provided for holding the valve 20 open until the pump hasbeen fully actuated and then the valve is auto matically closed. This is accomplished by providing the rod '33 with a groove or notch 54 into which a spring dog 55 snaps when the rod is fully drawn out, this dog serving to lock the bar in its outermost position and holding the several valves open. The spring; dog 55has a loop 56which embraces the operating rod 57 i of the pump. Said rod is provided with'a cam ortion 58 which will disengage the dog an release the rod 33 whencharge is forced into the'c linder the'driver need only move the spar found on every machine in order to effect the ex losion. This explosion will give. the

main s aft one or more rotations so thatthe several pistons will then automatically draw in their several charges through the main supply inlets, compress the same and explode them in succession, the circuit changer of engine and usual constant level gasolene tank 61.

an-engine has been idle for some time it is necessary to force gasolen'e from the tank 6] inorder to overflowthe car'bureter and prothis purpose.

course having commenced torotate as soon' as the'main shaft commenced to turn.

A carbureter of approved type is indicated at 60,-having the usual connections to the having connected thereto the- When vide a charge which can be drawn into the cylinder by the piston. Heretofore this has been accomplished by connecting a bulb to the tank 61. I rovide automatic means for 0 this end the tank 61 has connected'thereto asmall pump 63, preferably mounted to swing as shown, and arranged to be operated by the retractionof the rod 33. As shown, its piston-rod 64 is connected to one of the levers 46." Consequently when the rod 33 is retracted by'thespring 40 the pum is actuated to. force gasolene from the-tan 61 into the carbureter, thus supplyin a-charge which -willbe drawn into the cylinr. er on the first movement of its piston. y

The 0 eration of the devices described will be read' y understood from the foregoing de scription. The several attachments and connections described are entirely independent of the ordinary supply inlets and exhausts of'the cylinders and the operation of all of the other parts on the engine are in no manner interfered with by these attachments. Obviously when the engine is standing still the spark plug of some one of the cylinders will be active. The particular cylinder having the active plug can be readily determined from the indicator 50. Consequently it is only necessary: for the driver to first turn the handle 43 tdthe corresponding p osition,' then pull outwardly onusaid handle thus moving the rod33 longitudinally. Whicheverone of the several projections 34,

lever which I is 35, 36hr 37 happens to be in line with the lever.31i will engage the same and through c 1 the same rotate the valve 20 thus opening communication between the supply pipe 24 and the pipe leading-to-the cylinder having the active spark plug.

' Before manipulating the. handle 43,.or simultaneous] therewith,-

the operator will have drawn t e piston of the pump outwardly thus drawing a charge of fuel fromthe tank and air-into the barrel of the pump. As soonas the handleet'b has been pulled forward to its full extent the dog 55 automaticallylocks the same, thus hol-d' 'ing the several valves open. Then the operator forcesthe pump piston inwardly thereb in'ectinga charge of, fuel into the desire cyl inden As soon-as the piston is pushed fully inwardly the dog 55 is 'withdrawn and the spring 40 retracts the rod 33 L thereby automatically closing all of the valves, and simultaneously overflowin the carbureter. In thiscondition one oi cylinders contains a charge of compressed fuel and all of the connections to the'supplemental fuel supply are closed so' that the engine is in exactly the same condition fthat the" it would be if these supplemental connections were not attached. effected by operation of the usual spark lever the engine be ms to operate and tli'ereafter drawsin its Fuel supply by suction inthe ordinary way. and explodes the same' automatically. 7

Since the attachment-does not interfere with the ordinary operation of the engine and does not necessitate any change in the usual mechanism of the engine parts thedevice can be adapted to any type of multiple cylinder explosive engines.

In place of the pump 22 I can use an ordinary .bul'b, such as used on atomizers, which obviously is a pump. Fig. 7 showsan arrangement adapted for the use of gases'instead of a liquid fuel. In this case the tank 21 is adapted to contain a charge of compressed gas. 'This tank is connected to a measuring. chamber 65 through a suitable valve 66. The measuring chamber 65 has connected thereto a pressure gage ,67. In this modification the valve 66 is opened to aliow gas to pass into the measuring cham'.

' in succession, an indicator to show the active plug, a fuel supplyconnected to each cylinder, and valve mechanism and indicator therefor arranged to establish connections from hen the explosion is ful te 1? 1 th ex f h g a at r I '2. 'A starting ariiangement for gas en 'ines' comprising incombination a plurality o 1ndcrS, an igniter 1n eachcyhnder; means for rendering-said igniters active in succession,

ari "indicator to show the active igniter, a fuel supplyconnectedtosaidcylinders, hand 0 erated means for forcinga charge into t e cylinders, valvejmechamsm arranged toestablish, connectionfbetweenthe fuel supply and the f cylinder having the active s ark plug means for locking said valve mec anllsm open, and means controlled by the hand operated forcing means for automatically 0 osing saidivalve mechanism, a

A starting-arrangement for gas en ines comprising in combination a lurality 0 cylinders, an igniter for each cy inder, mechan ism fo'r rendering said'ig'niters active in succession, a fuel supply, connections therefrom to 'eachof said cylinders, valve mechanism;

arrangedgtoestablish connections from the fuel supply tofall of said cylinders, an oper- .ating. member forsaid valve, mechanism ar ranged toopen' connect1on to only one of sa1d.cyl1nders at a time, and means for auto-' matically closing said valvemechanism.

' 4. VA starting-arrangement for gas engines comprising in combination a lurality ofcylinders, anVi niter for each cyli nder, mechanism' for ren ering said igniters active in succession,;a fuel :su ply, valve mechanism arranged to establls connectlons between the fuel su ply and all of said cylinders, and a fshiftab e operatingmemberfor. said valve mechanism provided With-aseparate connector to the valve-mechanism for each of said cylinders and arranged to operate the valve mechanism to. open connection to only one cylinder at atime. r i

. .5. A starting arrangement for gas en ines comprising in combination a plurality'o cylinders, an igniter' for each cylinder, means for rendering said igniters active in succession," a fuelwsup lyyvalve mechanism arranged t'o establis h connection from the fuel supply toeach of vthe cylinders but only one at a time, means for locking said valvemechanis-In with the valve open, means for forcing a charge of fuel throu h the valve mechanism, connections there om for releasing the lock,- and means for automatically closing the valve mechanism;

comprising combination a plurality of. cylinde'rs,a spark plug in each'cylinder, a circuitchanger. forjdlrecting' the' 'current' to 'sa'id spark plugs succession, ,a'rijin'dicatOr to s ow the active plug, a fuel supply connected to each cylinder, valve mechanism arranged to establishconnections from the fuel supply to thee-yfmde fglmvin an active spark plu means flicking sai valve ,mechamsm wit thevawen g lit-baud operated means forforcism for ren 'matical y closing said valve mechanism.

6. A starting arrangement for gas engines mechanism arranged to establish connec tions to each cylinder and including a cutofi for each cylinder, an operatin member for said valve mechanism arrange to open connection from the fuel su ply to the cylinder having an active spark p ugand to open the cutoff valve, means for automatically closing said valves, and a lock for the operatin member arranged to hold the valves open an arranged to be released by the ump.

Qwth'e active spark 8'. A starting arrangement or gas en ines' comprising in combination a lurality 0 cylinders, a spark plug for each cy inder, a circuit changer fordirecting the current to said plugs in succession, an indicatoroperated in unison with said circuit changer, a fuel su ply and pump, connections therefrom to sac of said cylinders, valve mechanism arranged to es tablishconnections to each of-said cylinders, means for locking said valve mechanism in open position and arranged to be released by the pump 0 erating means, and means for automatical y closing said valves;

9. A starting arrangement for gas engines comprising in combination a-plurality of cylinders; a spark plug for each cylinder, a c1rcuit changer for directing the current to said plugs in succession, an indicator to show the active spark plug, a fuel supply and pump and connections therefrom to each cylinder, valve mechanism in said connections arranged to-establish communication between the fuel supply and each cylinder, operating means for said valve mechanism, an indicator toshow the cylinder-to which connection is made, arlock for holding said valve mechanism open and arranged to be released bythe pump 0 erating means, and'means for autoy 10.' A starting arrangement for gas engines comprising in combination a plurality of cylinders', an igniter for each cylinder, means for rendering said igniters active in succession, an indicator to show the active spark 'plug, .a fuel supplyconnected to each'of said cylinders} {valve mechanism said ton'riections arranged to establisl'r communication between thefuel supply and anyone of the cylinders, hand operating means for said valve mechanism, and an indicator to show to which cylinderconnectionsare made.

1 1. A starting. arrangement for gjt's'en ines comprising incombinatio'n a plura inders, a spark'plug for eachcylinder, a circuit changer for directing the current to said plugs in succession, an indicator operated in unison withsaid circuit changer, a fuel supply and connections therefrom to each ofthe cylinders, valve mechanism arranged to establish communication between the fuel suply and any one cylinder, operating means or-sai'd valve mechanism provided with an indicator by which to set said operating means, and an independent connector for each cylinder between the operating means and the valve mechanism.

. Y 12. A starting arrangement for gas engines 4, comprising in combination a plurality of cylinders, a spark plug in each cylinder, a circuit changer for directing the current to said spark plugs in successlon, an indicator oper-.

ated in unison with the circuit changer, a fuel supply and connections therefrom to each of the cylinders, a valve in said connections arranged to establish communication between the fuel supply and any one of the cylinders, a reciprocating rotatable operating rod provided with an independent con- 14. 'Astartingarrangement for multiplecylinder gas englnes comprising in combination,

'1 a plurality of cylinders, an igniter for each cylinder, means for rendering said igniters active in succession, valve mechanism for supplying fuelv to said cylinders, means for automatically closing said valve mechanism, a carbureter, and means actuated automatically from saidclosing means for overflowing said carbureter.

15.' A starting arrangement. for multiple cylinder gas engines comprising in combination a plurality of cylinders, an igniter for each cylinder, means for rendering said igniters active in succession, an indicator to show which igniter is active, a fuel sup ly connection to the cylinders, valve mechanism arranged to establish connection between the fuel supply and'the cylinder having the active igniter, means for automatically closing said valve mechanism, a carbureter, and.

means actuated automatically from said closing means for overflowing said carbureter.

'16. A starting arrangement for multiple cylinder gas engines'com rising in combination a plurality of cylin ers, an ignite-r for each cylinder, means for rendering said igniters active in succession, an indicator to show which igniter is active, a fuel su ply connection to the cylinders, valve mechanism arranged to establish connection between the fuel supply and the cylinder having the active igniter, means for automatically closing said valve mechanism, a carbureter, a tank connected thereto, and forcin means 0 erated from said closing means an arrange carbureter.

to force fuel from the tank into the In testimony whereof, I the said WILLIAM T. MAXWELL have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM T. MAXWELL. -Witnesses:

ROBERT C. TOTTEN, G. C. RAYMOND. 

